Car-coupling



s. W'HITTINGHILL.

(No Mode l;)

GAR COUPLING.

Patented July-1 5, 1884.

n. PETERS. mmummn' u. Wahinm ma.

NITEn STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN s. wnirtrmcninnor MADisONVIL E, KENTUCKY.

CAR-COUPLING.-

erncrrrca'rron forming art of Letters Patent No. 302,074, dated July is,1884.

Application filed June 9, 1884. (No model.)

-My invention relates to improvements inmeans for couplings carstogether; and the objeet is to provide means for the purpose statedwhich will effectually accomplish the end intended, and which will admitof disconnection with certainty and safety when it is desired todisengage connectedcars. I

My invention consists in the novel construction and combination ofparts, as will hereinafterbe fully described and specifically pointedout.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andillustrative of my improvements, Figure 1 is a plan View of the couplingin operative connection. Fig. 2 is a view in detail of the parts, andFig. 3 is a side View of the slotted draw-hook with the buffer-plate.

The letter A represents the side timbers of the frame or base of a car,connected by an end cross-piece, a, substantially as shown. In thedrawings I have represented the de-' vice as attached to the sidetimbers of thecarframe; but it is apparent that-a special frame oftimbers maybe made for the purpose and fixed intermediate between thebearing-timbers of the car. To the inner face of each side timber arestrongly secured rectangular box-frames b b,within' the walls of whichrest and operate the cross-pieces c c, as hereinafter stated.

The letters B B represent the draw-hooks, the one designated by Bconsisting of the hooked end and elongated shanks d, terminating in ashoulder at e, and the end thereof being formed with a seat, f, andprovided with a key-hole, g. The draw hook or bar designated by B isformed with a hooked end, as shown, immediately back of which'is formedthe horizontal slot h, for the purposes hereinafter stated. The shank cland shoulder e are identical in shape to those parts in the other hook,and the end is provided with a key-hole, 9, but is formed with astep,f",\vhich sets against the shoulder, f in the hook B, in order that thepressure on the buffers shall operate the springs and be distributedequally on both shanks or hooks. This draw hook B has formed on it orcast with it a buffer-head, C, which improvement gives thecoupling-hooks the functional capacity of a buffer. The buffer plate orpart is cast wider than the body of the draw-hook on which it is formed,so,

that when set in operative connection the eX- tended side shall lap overthe other drawhook and serve to keep it always in line of couplingconnection. front end of the buffer-plate is cut on an incline to givefree access to the hook-heads under it, and, as is seen, the plate orhead eX- tends somewhat over the curved neck of the hook on which itisformed. This construction removes all liability to upward or downwarddisplacement by jars, jumps, or shakes.

As hereinbefore stated, the cross-pieces cc have their ends disposed inthe recess of the rectangular frames 1) I), each cross-piece hav ing acentral hole to receivethe shanks of the the draw-hooks. Between thecross-pieces is a coiled spring, 2', the purposes of which are to thepurpose of its reception in their rear ends on the outside of the rearcross-piece.

To prevent sidedisplacemenathe usual s1de The under face of the,

.7 5 draw-hooks, and arranged about the shanks of springs, I), aresecured to the side timbers of the frame,with their free ends pressingagainst the side faces of the draw-hooks.

The letter E represents a latch or lever pivoted in the longitudinalslot in the draw-hook B. The preferred shape of this latch or lever isshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and consists of an irregular curve, thelong or rear arm of which sets within the slot, and is provided with aperforation, somewhat elongated, to readily admit the passage of the pinF, set inthe perforation k in the draw-hook. The front arm of this latchor lever is formed so that when therear arm is held within the slot bythe pin the face of the front arm shall extend flush beyond the edge ofthe bite of the I hook on the draw-bar, for the purpose of carrying theopposite hook over the lip of this hook and disengaging the connections.It will be observed that this latch or lever is neverin operation as adetacher except when held by the pin. In all other conditions ofoperation or position it does not affect the integrity of the couplingconnection.

Vhen it is necessary or desirable to shorten the slack between oppositecars, I interpose a detachable buffer plate or block, G, between theends of the buffcnplates on the drawhooks. This block may be of anydesirable shape. I have shown it formed with side ears or flanges, whichrest against the sides of the buffenplates and keep it in position.

IVhile my improvement may be used with advantage on a 1)ISS0llgGl-C21l,it is particularly designed for use on freight-cars, its constructionand connection of parts fitting it for the lat ter purpose, sincedisconnection or disengagement cannot be effected by any of the ordinaryjars, jerks, or jolts which sometimes separate couplings made by presentmeans. Neither can the parts slip up or down, be cause the buffenplatesprevent such movement.

To effect operative connection of the parts all that is necessary to dois to bring opposing ends of cars together, when the couplinghooksengage automatically and the coupling is made. To effect the engagementof the coupling, the cars are brought together, when the hook of thedraw-bar b drives the projecting end of the latch or lever 0 within theslot of the draw-bar B, in which position it is socured by dropping thepin F through the hole. This, it will be seen,thro'ws the front end ofthe latch or lever flush beyond the edge of the lip of the hook, so thatwhen the carsare drawn apart the hooks slide up the incline face of thelever and form connection with each other.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. The draw bar or hook B, formed with a buffer plate or head, 0, saidbuffer plate or head having its side extending beyond the inner face ofthe body of the draw hook or bar, substantially as described.

2. A draw hook or bar formed with a longitudinal slot located in thebody of the drawhook behind the hook, and formed with a buffer head orplate on its upper portion, in combination with a latch or leverpivotally secured in the longitudinal slot, and having a perforation inits rear arm registering with a perforation in the body of thedraw-hook, and a stay-pin to secure the rear arm of the latch in placeand the face of the front arm flush with the edge of the lip of thehook, substantially described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination, the draw-hook B, shouldered at its rear end, thedraw-hook B,formed with a step at its rear end to rest on the shoulderof the draw-hook B, and formed with a buffer-plate, C, with sideextensiomand means for uniting them, substantially as described.

4. In combination, the draw-hook B, shouldered at its rear end, thedraw-hook B, formed with a step at its rear, and a buffer-plate withside extension on its upper front face, and provided with a longitudinalslot back of the head of the hook, a disengaging latch or lever pivotedin said slot and having its rear ends perforated, and a stay-pin set inthe perforations in the draw-hook and latch to hold the said latch inoperative position, substantially as described, and for the purpose setforth.

5. In eonibinatioir, the draw hooks or bars B B, formed as described,and having their ends keyed together, the cross-pieces c c, interposedspring 1', and side box-frames, b b, and side springs, D, secured to theside frames, substantially as described.

6. In combination, the draw hook or bar formed with a longitudinal slotin the body of the drawhook behind the hook, a latch or lever formedwith a perforation in the end of its rear arm, and pivotally secured inthe longitudinal slot, and a stay-pin whereby the fore arm of said leveris set with its face flush with the edge of the lip of the draw-hook,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' I11 testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in thepresence of two attesting witnesses.

JOHN S. XVIIITTINGIIILL.

Attest:

G150. IV. RAMSEY, .TNo. G. MoRToN.

